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Shannon Sharpe didn’t mince phrases when weighing in on Brock Purdy’s huge contract extension with the San Francisco 49ers. Talking about Purdy’s rise from Mr. Irrelevant to a $265 million man, Sharpe mentioned, “He’s in all probability value extra as a result of he saved Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch’s job.”

Sharpe’s take facilities on the 49ers’ notorious commerce for Trey Lance. In 2021, San Francisco traded three first-round picks to maneuver up and choose Lance third total. That transfer failed spectacularly. Lance performed simply eight video games for the 49ers earlier than being dealt, an consequence that would have derailed most entrance places of work. However the workforce struck gold with Purdy, the ultimate decide within the 2022 NFL Draft, who has since develop into the franchise’s beginning quarterback, main the workforce to 2 NFC title video games and one Tremendous Bowl look.

Brock Purdy will get the bag from the 49ers

The 49ers’ newest present of confidence in Purdy got here within the type of a five-year, $265 million extension with $181 million assured. Whereas critics might level out that Purdy hasn’t made an All-Professional workforce and solely has one Professional Bowl nod, his numbers again up the funding. Since taking up as starter in 2022, he leads the league in yards per try and ranks second in passer score. In response to GM John Lynch, “We made him the final decide of the draft and it’s served us properly.”

However Purdy’s worth isn’t simply in stats. His emergence let the 49ers transfer on from Lance with out sinking the group. He gave the workforce stability, value management, and manufacturing. That runway allowed Shanahan and Lynch to recalibrate and steer the workforce again to rivalry. As Sharpe famous, with out Purdy, the fallout from the Lance decide may need ended each of their tenures.

Nonetheless, expectations have now shifted. The times of Purdy being the league’s finest discount are over. His contract ranks him among the many highest-paid quarterbacks within the league, that means the stress to carry out in high-leverage moments is actual. Whereas Purdy has thrived within the common season, questions stay about his capability to raise within the playoffs. With core veterans ageing and wage cap flexibility shrinking, he’ll have to show he can win when it issues most.

Purdy’s rise is already one of many NFL’s best draft success tales. Now, the problem is sustaining that success and delivering a Lombardi Trophy. If he does, Sharpe’s assertion may not simply be hot-take TV—it might develop into consensus historical past.